All Things New — New Year…New You
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Introduction
Introduction
86,400
Can anyone tell me what that number represents?
It represents the number of seconds in every single day.
And this number is a very significant number!
Do you know why it’s so significant?
Because with every passing second, it’s a second you will never get back.
Tick, Tock — Tick, Tock!
Just like that, 4 seconds of your life is gone, gone forever!
Something so tiny and so often taken for granted, but something so significant that it should be the driving force behind what we do every single day.
Now, here’s another number for you....
31,536,000
Who can tell me what that number is?
That’s how many seconds are in an entire year!
And the question I want to ask you this morning is this...
Out of the 31,536,000 seconds in this last year, how many of those did you spend with God?
How many seconds did you spend in prayer with God?
How many of those seconds did you spend studying God’s Word or meditating on God’s Word, or telling others about God’s Word?
How many of those 31,536,000 seconds were spent doing something for God or in communication with God compared to everything else they were spent on?
Now, if you’re anything like me…these questions hit hard, don’t they?
You see, I had to go to a meeting in the middle of December for work and I don’t exactly remember how it came up but someone brought up the impact of every second and that is something that has stuck with me ever since but in a different kind of way.
I immediately began to think of all the wasted seconds throughout the year that I had spent on things other than God and it really hit home with me.
You see, we so often get caught up in the day to day things and forget that our time here is extremely limited!
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
One day we’re here and the next we’re gone and the only thing that remains at that very moment is the judgment!
Paul told the Church of Ephesus in...
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
And then he told the Church of Colosse in...
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.
4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
“Make the most of every opportunity!!!”
I don’t know about you but that’s something I can definitely say I didn’t do in 2022 and pray that I can do a better job of in 2023.
I want to make the most of every second God gives me in 2023!
I want to look back and say 2023 was a break out year for my relationship and my walk with God!
But if that’s going to happen for any of us, it’s going to be because we made the most of every opportunity God gives us.
The great British Missionary C.T. Studd penned some of the most convicting words, that if heeded, will help each of us to live a little closer to the Lord in 2023. I want to share this little poem with you and then we’re going to look at how we can ensure that 2023 isn’t just another year but a year where we make the most of every opportunity God gives us!
The title of this little poem by C.T. Studd is “Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past.”
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice;
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.
What a wonderful little poem to remind us of the importance of this one life we’ve been given.
This one shot at getting it right!
Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!
So how can we ensure that we make the most of every opportunity given us in 2023?
By changing our minds to not only think of Christ but to think like Christ!
Because when our mindset becomes the mindset of Christ, then we will want to live like Christ lived. We will want to walk as Christ walked. We will want to talk as Christ talked. We will want to love as Christ loved. We will want to care for others as Christ cared for others. And most importantly, we will want our lives to honor God as Christ’s life honored God!
As I began to think about this and the significance of the trials we face day in and day out, I couldn’t help but to think about how every aspect of our lives will be changed if we can get this one thing right!
So, if you have your Bible’s turned to Philippians 2:1 would you say, Amen.
Sermon
Sermon
Vs. 2
That ye be “likeminded” — “To mind of think the same thing.”
Having the “same love” — The noun form of the word love used here carries the sense of affectionate regard or benevolence toward someone.
The object of our affection ought to be the same person which is the Lord Jesus Christ!
Being of “one accord” — The word “accord” means “harmonious” and speaks of being united in soul!
Vs. 3-4
“Strife” — selfish ambition…implying rivalry
“Vainglory” — pride or vain/empty conceit
“Lowliness of mind” — this phrase refers to an attitude of humility.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Vs. 5
Remember in the introduction we were talking about the one thing that if we could just get it, it would change everything?
It’s this verse right here!
If we want to be closer to God in 2023, if we want our relationship, our walk, our talk, our witness for God to be stronger in the new year…then this is how we do it!
We must let the mind of Christ be our mindset!
Paul told the Church at Ephesus...
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
If we want as the old hymn goes “a closer walk with thee” then we must renew our minds to be like Christ!
Paul told the Romans the same thing...
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!
This is how we attain the status of one accord.
This is how we win the war against self.
This is what will take us to that next level in our walk with Christ!
It’s funny, we were just talking about this on Wednesday night.
The more you are around someone, the more you tend to become like them. And if we want to be like Christ, then we have to envelop the mind of Christ and make it our own.
What is the mind of Christ?
Look on down in Verse 6 with me.
Vs. 6-7
I want you to notice something here very specific that I had never picked up on before but one of my commentaries brought out.
In Verse 5, Paul says, “let this mind be in you which was also in “Christ Jesus.”
The order of the names has a lot of implication.
W. E. Vine pointed out that the order of the names and titles of the Lord is always a matter of precision in the New Testament.
“Christ Jesus” places the emphasis on the exalted One who “emptied himself”.
Vine said:“Jesus Christ” describes the despised and rejected One who was afterwards glorified, and testifies to His resurrection.
“Christ Jesus” suggests His grace, “Jesus Christ” suggests His glory. — John Phillips Commentary
Who being in the form of God...
The word “form” used here is the Greek word (morphe) and it speaks of the very nature or character of a person or thing.
Jesus was in the form of God but took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men!
The Bible says here that Jesus made Himself of “no reputation”.
That phrase means “to divest oneself of position.”
Dear friend, the God of glory submitted to the will of the Father and willingly gave up His position in the heavenlies to take on the lowest position known to man here on earth in order that WE might be saved!
Don’t get the wrong idea though…just because He divested Himself of His position doesn’t mean that He also divested Himself of His power!
He was still fully God, while yet being fully man!
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
John Phillips — In eternity past Christ was not only equal with God; He existed in the essential form (morphē) of God. In the act of becoming a servant, the Lord Jesus deliberately abandoned the glory and majesty He had with the Father before the worlds began. The Lord did not empty Himself of His divine attributes. He did not cease to be God even though He took upon Himself the outward characteristics of a servant. He assumed all that was essentially human without relinquishing anything that was essentially divine.
Vs. 8
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The word “Fashion” — speaks of the form, nature, structure of a thing. The outward appearance if you will.
Being found in the form of man, in nature as a man, in outward appearance as a man....He humbled Himself and became obedient to death!
This is the part that gets me going the most...
PREACH...PREACHER...PREACH!!!
“Even the death of the cross!”
This is the part most people had the biggest problem with!
If He were truly the prophesied Messiah what is He doing hanging there on that tree?
If He were truly God, why didn’t He save Himself?
The answer...because He was too busy taking my sin and my shame, your sin and your shame, and the sin and shame of the entire world upon His own self!
But cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree; that’s what the Bible says!
The curse Christ took upon Himself was for you and for me!
He didn’t save Himself because He was too busy saving you and me!
The one and only Son of God, a man who lived a perfect life, a man who sinned not, neither was guile found in His mouth, died a sinners death!
How could this be?
Because of my sin and your sin that’s how!
He paid the price!
He suffered the pain and agony and shame!
He was the one who was mocked and spit upon!
He was the one who was beaten and scourged!
He was the one by whose stripes we are healed!
He took our place!
He hung there on that old rugged cross on Calvary’s hill for you and I!
We should be the one’s crucified on that old rugged cross not Jesus!
But in humility and shame He died for our sins!
The King of glory, robed Himself in human flesh, made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form of a servant!
And if that weren’t enough, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross!
Reserved for the most vilest of sinners, the most shameful death a man could die!
If this doesn’t help you to understand how much God loves you, dear friend I don’t know what will!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life!
God loved you so much that He gave His one and only Son so that you and I might have life eternal!
Vs. 9-11
Vs. 12-15
Closing
Closing
As we come to a close this morning I want to ask you a very simply question…Are YOU shining as a light in this world?
If you were put on trial and accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Listen this whole message stemmed from some Verses in Isaiah Chapter 43 and Revelation 21.
18 Remember ye not the former things, Neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And here was the premise behind the message....yesterday is gone and there’s not a thing you can do to go back and change it.
Remember ye not the former things.
Behold I will do a new thing!
I believe God wants to a do new thing in each and every person sitting here today, myself included!
And I believe He wants to do such a thing that it’s going to spring forth and such a thing that everyone who comes in contact with you will know that God is doing a new thing in you!
God has the power to make all things new but whether that happens or not lies with you!
Do you want to grow closer to the Lord this year?
Then do it!
Do you want to read and study your Bible more this year?
Then do it!
Do you want to go deeper in your prayer life this year?
Then do it!
Do you want to be a great witness for God in 2023?
Then do it!
The only thing holding you back is you!
Out of the 31,536,000 seconds in 2023, you have roughly 31, 492,800 seconds left.
Will you use your time more wisely for God in 2023?
All Things New — New Year…and the question I leave you with is this…will there be a New You?
The choice is yours and the time to decide is now!